Police: Woman Shot by Des Moines Officer Has Died

Police say 29-year-old Tiffany Potter was involved in a chase with police, when she parked in the driveway at 1623 E. 14th Street around 2:00 a.m. and tried to run from officers. Police say she had no connection to the residence or those who live there.

Officials say Potter had a handgun and fired at least one round. One of the three police officers on the scene fired his handgun at Potter and she was hit. Officers provided emergency medical care to her until emergency crews arrived. She was taken to the hospital where she died.

Des Moines Police Department spokesperson, Sgt. Paul Parizek says members of his department have had numerous run – ins with Potter prior to Wednesday’s incident.

According to online records, Potter was released from jail in March on drug and weapon related charges. Parizek says drugs may have been connected in the officer – involved shooting.

“Evidence recovered at the scene right now indicates there was probably a drug nexus and that might be what prompted her to try and get away from the cops.”

Police say senior officers Brian Buck, Brandon Houlton, and Brady Pratt were the officers involved but are not releasing which officer fired the weapon or how many rounds. The officers tenure with the department range from seven to four years. Investigators say video recordings at the scene and witness statements back up the details of what happened.

Officials are praising the officer’s actions, calling them courageous.

“This is the type of thing we go head to head with every day and nine times out of ten it doesn’t get to this point but in this situation we were dealt some circumstances that we didn’t have a choice on how we dealt with them,” says Parizek.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into the incident, as is standard in officer-involved shootings. All three officers have been placed on paid administrative leave.